Straw assembly for liquid dispenser

Abstract

Disclosed are embodiments of straw assemblies for use with liquid containers. In one embodiment, a straw assembly can include a lid coupler operatively coupled by a pivot rod to a straw coupler. In one embodiment, the pivot rod provides an axis of rotation for the lid coupler that is offset and parallel to a main axis of the straw assembly. In some embodiments, the lid coupler is configured to retain a valve and/or a gasket. In certain embodiments, the straw coupler can be configured to retain a seal. In one embodiment the lid coupler and the straw coupler can be provided with, respectively, a lid coupler hook and a straw coupler hook. The lid coupler hook and the straw coupler hook are configured to facilitate removable coupling of the lid coupler and the straw coupler.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A straw assembly comprising:
 a lid coupler configured to couple to a lid of a container; 
 a straw coupler configured to couple to a straw, the straw coupler configured for rotation relative to the lid coupler; 
 a pivot rod coupled to the lid coupler and to the straw coupler, the pivot rod configured to facilitate rotation of the lid coupler relative to the straw coupler; 
 wherein the lid coupler comprises:
 a lid coupler tube having a passageway; 
 a lid coupler base coupled to the lid coupler tube; 
 wherein the lid coupler tube and/or the lid coupler base is configured with a cavity to receive a valve; 
 
 wherein the straw coupler comprises:
 a straw coupler tube having a passageway; 
 a straw coupler base coupled to the straw coupler tube; 
 wherein the straw coupler tube and/or the straw coupler base is configured with a cavity to receive a seal; and 
 
 wherein the pivot rod provides an axis of rotation that is offset from and parallel to a main axis of the straw assembly. 
 
     
     
       2. The straw assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lid coupler further comprises a lid coupler hook, the straw coupler comprises a straw coupler hook, and wherein the lid coupler hook and the straw coupler hook are configured to be removably coupled to one another. 
     
     
       3. The straw assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the straw coupler further comprises a stop configured to stop a full rotation of the lid coupler relative to the straw coupler. 
     
     
       4. The straw assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lid coupler tube and/or the lid coupler base is further configured to receive a gasket. 
     
     
       5. The straw assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lid coupler base comprises a lid coupler base extension, wherein the straw coupler base comprises a straw coupler base extension, and wherein the lid coupler base extension and the straw coupler base extension are each configured to receive the pivot rod, and thereby operationally couple the lid coupler with the straw coupler. 
     
     
       6. A straw assembly for use with a portable water bottle, the straw assembly comprising:
 a lid coupler configured to operatively couple to a fluid passageway of a lid of the portable water bottle; 
 a straw coupler configured to operatively couple to the fluid passageway and to the lid coupler; the straw coupler further configured to couple to a straw; 
 a pivot rod operatively coupled to the lid coupler and to the straw coupler, the pivot rod configured to facilitate a rotation of the lid coupler relative to the straw coupler; and 
 wherein the pivot rod provides an axis of rotation that is offset from and parallel to a main axis of the straw assembly. 
 
     
     
       7. The straw assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a valve retained in the lid coupler. 
     
     
       8. The straw assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a gasket retained in the lid coupler. 
     
     
       9. The straw assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a seal retained in the straw coupler. 
     
     
       10. The straw assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the lid coupler comprises a lid coupler hook, the straw coupler comprises a straw coupler hook, and wherein the lid coupler hook and the straw coupler hook are configured to be removably coupled to one another. 
     
     
       11. The straw assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the straw coupler comprises a stop configured to stop a full rotation of the lid coupler relative to the straw coupler. 
     
     
       12. The straw assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the lid coupler comprises a lid coupler base coupled to a lid coupler tube. 
     
     
       13. The straw assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the lid coupler base is configured to retain a gasket. 
     
     
       14. The straw assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the straw coupler comprises a straw coupler base coupled to a straw coupler tube. 
     
     
       15. The straw assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the straw coupler base is configured to retain a seal. 
     
     
       16. A straw and lid assembly for use with a water bottle, the straw and lid assembly comprising:
 a lid for the water bottle; 
 a straw assembly coupled to the lid; 
 wherein the lid comprises:
 a spout collar; 
 a spout coupled to the spout collar; 
 a link coupled to the spout collar; 
 a spout cover coupled to the link; 
 wherein from a stowed position of the spout, an initial rotation of the spout collar in a first direction causes, via the link, the spout cover to rotate in a second direction, said first direction being towards an in-use position of the spout, said second direction being counter to the first direction; 
 wherein a further rotation of the spout collar in the first direction causes, via the link, the spout cover to rotate in a third direction, said third direction being rotationally in the same direction as the first direction; 
 wherein from the in-use position of the spout, an initial rotation of the spout collar in a fourth direction causes, via the link, the spout cover to rotate in a fifth direction, said fourth direction being towards an stowed position of the spout, said fifth direction being rotationally in the same direction as the fourth direction; 
 wherein a further rotation of the spout collar in the fourth direction causes, via the link, the spout cover to rotate in a sixth direction, said sixth direction being counter to the fifth direction; 
 wherein, in the in-use position of the spout, the spout cover is in a closed position and covers a space that is occupied by the spout when the spout is in the stowed position; 
 wherein, in the stowed position of the spout, the spout cover is in a closed position covering the spout; 
 
 wherein the straw assembly comprises:
 a lid coupler configured to operatively couple to a fluid passageway of the lid; 
 a straw coupler configured to operatively couple to the fluid passageway and to the lid coupler; the straw coupler further configured to couple to a straw; and 
 a pivot rod operatively coupled to the lid coupler and to the straw coupler, the pivot rod configured to facilitate a rotation of the lid coupler relative to the straw coupler. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The straw and lid assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the pivot rod provides an axis of rotation that is offset from and parallel to a main axis of the straw assembly. 
     
     
       18. The straw and lid assembly of  claim 17 , the straw assembly further comprising a valve and a gasket retained in the lid coupler. 
     
     
       19. The straw assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a seal retained in the straw coupler.